1979–80 Los Angeles Kings season

The 1979–80 Los Angeles Kings season was the Kings' 13th season in the National Hockey League (NHL). It saw the Kings qualify for the playoffs, placing second in the Norris Division, but they lost in the first round to the New York Islanders. Just prior to the end of the season, the Kings sent Butch Goring to the Islanders for Billy Harris and Dave Lewis. Goring would help the Islanders defeat the Kings on their way to their first of 4 Stanley Cup wins. They also had the worst penalty kill percentage in a season in the history of the NHL at 67.70%.

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|1||T||October 10, 1979||4–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) ||0–0–1

|2||W||October 13, 1979||5–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1979–80) ||1–0–1

|3||L||October 16, 1979||6–8 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) ||1–1–1

|4||W||October 17, 1979||5–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) ||2–1–1

|5||L||October 19, 1979||3–6 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) ||2–2–1

|6||L||October 20, 1979||4–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||2–3–1

|7||W||October 23, 1979||7–4 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) ||3–3–1

|8||W||October 24, 1979||5–3 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1979–80) ||4–3–1

|9||W||October 27, 1979||7–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) ||5–3–1

|10||T||October 30, 1979||4–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||5–3–2

|11||W||November 1, 1979||4–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1979–80) ||6–3–2

|12||L||November 3, 1979||1–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) ||6–4–2

|13||W||November 4, 1979||5–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) ||7–4–2

|14||L||November 6, 1979||1–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1979–80) ||7–5–2

|15||L||November 7, 1979||4–8 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1979–80) ||7–6–2

|16||T||November 10, 1979||6–6 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) ||7–6–3

|17||W||November 13, 1979||4–1 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1979–80) ||8–6–3

|18||T||November 15, 1979||3–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) ||8–6–4

|19||L||November 17, 1979||1–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) ||8–7–4

|20||W||November 20, 1979||5–1 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) ||9–7–4

|21||L||November 21, 1979||4–6 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||9–8–4

|22||T||November 24, 1979||4–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1979–80) ||9–8–5

|23||W||November 27, 1979||5–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) ||10–8–5

|24||W||December 1, 1979||7–0 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) ||11–8–5

|25||W||December 4, 1979||6–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) ||12–8–5

|26||L||December 6, 1979||4–9 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||12–9–5

|27||L||December 7, 1979||2–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) ||12–10–5

|28||L||December 9, 1979||2–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) ||12–11–5

|29||W||December 12, 1979||7–4 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1979–80) ||13–11–5

|30||W||December 15, 1979||4–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) ||14–11–5

|31||T||December 19, 1979||4–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) ||14–11–6

|32||L||December 20, 1979||3–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||14–12–6

|33||W||December 22, 1979||9–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) ||15–12–6

|34||W||December 27, 1979||3–0 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) ||16–12–6

|35||W||December 29, 1979||4–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) ||17–12–6

|36||W||January 2, 1980||4–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) ||18–12–6

|37||T||January 5, 1980||3–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) ||18–12–7

|38||T||January 6, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) ||18–12–8

|39||L||January 8, 1980||3–6 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) ||18–13–8

|40||W||January 9, 1980||6–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) ||19–13–8

|41||W||January 12, 1980||6–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) ||20–13–8

|42||L||January 13, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) ||20–14–8

|43||L||January 16, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||20–15–8

|44||L||January 19, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1979–80) ||20–16–8

|45||L||January 22, 1980||4–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1979–80) ||20–17–8

|46||W||January 24, 1980||5–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) ||21–17–8

|47||T||January 26, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) ||21–17–9

|48||L||January 27, 1980||1–9 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||21–18–9

|49||L||January 29, 1980||3–7 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) ||21–19–9

|50||L||January 30, 1980||1–8 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) ||21–20–9

|51||L||February 2, 1980||4–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) ||21–21–9

|52||L||February 3, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) ||21–22–9

|53||L||February 6, 1980||3–7 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) ||21–23–9

|54||L||February 7, 1980||1–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1979–80) ||21–24–9

|55||W||February 9, 1980||7–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) ||22–24–9

|56||L||February 10, 1980||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||22–25–9

|57||L||February 12, 1980||2–5 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1979–80) ||22–26–9

|58||L||February 14, 1980||4–6 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1979–80) ||22–27–9

|59||W||February 16, 1980||3–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1979–80) ||23–27–9

|60||W||February 18, 1980||4–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) ||24–27–9

|61||W||February 20, 1980||3–0 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||25–27–9

|62||L||February 23, 1980||1–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) ||25–28–9

|63||L||February 26, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) ||25–29–9

|64||L||February 27, 1980||4–5 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1979–80) ||25–30–9

|65||L||March 1, 1980||0–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) ||25–31–9

|66||W||March 2, 1980||4–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) ||26–31–9

|67||L||March 5, 1980||1–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1979–80) ||26–32–9

|68||T||March 8, 1980||3–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) ||26–32–10

|69||L||March 10, 1980||3–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) ||26–33–10

|70||L||March 12, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) ||26–34–10

|71||T||March 13, 1980||2–2 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) ||26–34–11

|72||T||March 15, 1980||2–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) ||26–34–12

|73||W||March 19, 1980||4–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1979–80) ||27–34–12

|74||W||March 22, 1980||4–1 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) ||28–34–12

|75||W||March 25, 1980||5–2 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) ||29–34–12

|76||T||March 27, 1980||2–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) ||29–34–13

|77||T||March 29, 1980||2–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1979–80) ||29–34–14

|78||W||April 1, 1980||4–3 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1979–80) ||30–34–14

|79||L||April 3, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) ||30–35–14

|80||L||April 5, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) ||30–36–14

Legend:

Playoffs

Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG C 80 53 84 137 32351706 LW 64 56 45 101 65472108 RW 61 37 53 90 72391207 C 69 20 48 68 12-21211 D 63 11 45 56 5214800 RW 80 27 22 49 29-12731 D 78 4 36 40 1829100 LW 76 21 15 36 13-39422 C 77 6 24 30 88-13100 RW 55 10 11 21 78-4101 C 52 9 12 21 23-7101 C 51 5 16 21 12-17100 D 52 6 10 16 48-13300 RW 60 8 6 14 39-16102 D 63 1 13 14 82-14100 D 63 2 9 11 32-13000 RW 11 4 3 7 64101 LW 75 4 3 7 91-19110 LW 33 2 5 7 6-16000 LW 40 2 5 7 28-6000 D 11 1 2 3 34-3000 D 15 0 3 3 161000 D 11 1 1 2 123000 G 26 0 1 1 20000 D 15 0 1 1 10-7000 D 42 0 1 1 94-3000 LW/D 3 0 0 0 03000 G 10 0 0 0 00000 G 50 0 0 0 60000 LW 3 0 0 0 5-2000 D 43 0 0 0 113-22000Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO 2836 50 18 22 7 185 3.91 0 1405 26 9 11 4 98 4.19 2 559 10 3 3 3 23 2.47 0 Team: 4800 80 30 36 14 306 3.83 2 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG RW 4 2 1 3 4000 D 4 1 2 3 4000 C 4 0 3 3 4000 LW 3 2 0 2 0100 C 4 1 1 2 7000 D 4 1 1 2 9000 RW 4 1 0 1 0000 RW 4 1 0 1 2010 C 4 1 0 1 0011 RW 4 0 1 1 5000 D 3 0 1 1 11000 D 4 0 1 1 2000 D 1 0 0 0 0000 D 1 0 0 0 2000 RW 4 0 0 0 2000 LW 2 0 0 0 0000 LW 4 0 0 0 2000 G 1 0 0 0 0000 LW 3 0 0 0 2000 G 4 0 0 0 0000 D 1 0 0 0 0000 D 4 0 0 0 11000 LW 2 0 0 0 4000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO 207 4 1 2 14 4.06 0 40 1 0 1 7 10.50 0 Team: 247 4 1 3 21 5.10 0

Transactions The Kings were involved in the following transactions during the 1979–80 season.

Trades June 9, 1979To Los Angeles KingsBarry GibbsTo New York IslandersTom Williams June 11, 1979To Los Angeles KingsMike MarsonTo Washington CapitalsSteve Clippingdale August 16, 1979To Los Angeles KingsCashTo St. Louis BluesTom Williams September 14, 1979To Los Angeles KingsBrad Selwood 4th round pick in 1982 – Dave RossTo Montreal Canadiens4th round pick in 1982 – John DeVoe March 10, 1980To Los Angeles KingsBilly Harris Dave LewisTo New York IslandersButch Goring March 10, 1980To Los Angeles KingsJerry KorabTo Buffalo Sabres1st round pick in 1982 – Phil Housley

Free agent signings October 1, 1979From Montreal CanadiensDon Howse October 11, 1979From Saginaw Gears (IHL)Scott Gruhl

Free agents lost January 21, 1980To Philadelphia FlyersDave Gardner

Free agent compensation August 22, 1979To Los Angeles KingsAndre St. Laurent 1st round pick in 1980 – Larry Murphy 1st round pick in 1981 – Doug SmithTo Detroit Red WingsDale McCourt Rogie Vachon

Waivers February 10, 1980To Toronto Maple LeafsRichard Mulhern

Expansion draft June 13, 1979To Edmonton OilersLarry Brown June 13, 1979To Quebec NordiquesHartland Monahan June 13, 1979To Winnipeg JetsDennis Abgrall June 13, 1979To Winnipeg JetsMark Heaslip

Draft picks Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1979 NHL entry draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)116Jay Wells Kingston Canadians (OHL)229Dean Hopkins London Knights (OMJHL)230Mark Hardy Montreal Juniors (QMJHL)350John-Paul Kelly New Westminster Bruins (WHL)471John Gibson Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL)592Jim Brown University of Notre Dame (WCHA)6113Jay McFarlane University of Wisconsin (WCHA)

See also 1979–80 NHL season

References